The College of Optometrists

02 February 2006

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Fight for Sight has presented Moorfields Eye Hospital with £1m towards what will eventually become the world’s leading children’s ophthalmic hospital.

Fight for Sight Chairman Christopher Moore said: “It gives the Trustees and supporters of Fight for Sight great pleasure to be making this donation towards this new centre which will not only have tangible and far-reaching benefits for the treatment of childhood eye disease, but will also benefit from its proximity to The Institute of Ophthalmology, where some of the best eye research in the world is being carried out.”

Ian Balmer, Chief Executive of Moorfields Eye Hospital said: "The appeal for Moorfields' new children's eye centre has met with fantastic support. Key to its success has been the very significant support of Fight for Sight, the British Eye Research Foundation and our other major donors during the early stages of the appeal. We are extremely grateful to the Foundation for helping to fund the development of the research unit, a key element of this world-class facility, which will provide new hope for children with intractable eye problems, for whom there is currently none.”

The Centre is due to open later this year. It will provide world-class treatment, from the routine to the most rare and complex conditions, to the 25,000 paediatric patient attendances each year, together with appropriate support and high-quality, flexible accommodation for their families. The Centre will also enable Moorfields, with the Institute of Ophthalmology (UCL), to establish a world-class research programme in paediatric ophthalmology.

If you would like to make a donation to the appeal or take part in one of Fight for Sight’s fundraising activities, call Sarina Jesudason on 020 7608 4000 or click here.